Original Blog Entry: 'Say Yes To The Dress Canada': Everything You Need To Know

meganone — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 06:54:09 GMT

'Say Yes To The Dress Canada': Everything You Need To Know

For many years now, Canadians have been watching the U.S. version of Say Yes To The Dress. The drama, the tears, the intricate gowns -- all just out of our grasp. Those days are done; Say Yes To The Dress Canada premieres on W Network onWednesday, January 7 with back-to-back episodes at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The series features brides from across Canada as they shop for their dream dress with loved ones at Amanda-Lina's Sposa Boutique in Woodbridge, Ontario, just outside of Toronto. For those not in the know, each episode invites viewers to take a journey with the brides-to-be as they face the exhilaration and emotion of saying Yes! before they say I do! ... and we thought walking down the aisle was the hardest part.

HuffPost Canada TV visited the set of SYTTDC in the fall of 2014 (on location at Amanda-Lina's) and chatted with Joseph Spencer, the bridal stylist for the show, along with some of the staff at the bridal shop. This inaugural season promises to be a doozy, filled with emotional stories and touching scenes. Here are some of the more important tidbits of information about the show for all you SYTTD fanatics.

Meet Our Own Version Of Randy: Joseph

Fans of the U.S. version are probably familiar with Randy Fenoli, the bridal stylist atKleinfeld who helps all the brides-to-be pick their gowns. Canada's own Randy isJoseph Spencer (known mostly as Joseph on the show), a man with a ridiculous amount of experience in styling -- he's worked at Holt Renfrew, Maynard's, the former Simpsons stores, and his biggest name, Chanel. A self-proclaimed style fixer, Joseph is warm, lively, and biting when he needs to be. He's also not a quiet fellow. We were told several times to keep the noise level down while chatting.

After making a joke about mother-in-laws' boob jobs ( The attention is supposed to be on your daughter-in-law! ), he settles down and gets real about his new hosting gig.

I've never been on TV before, so I'm very excited, said Joseph. For me, it's not about the gown. It's about you and how you feel in it.

Joseph takes his job very seriously, and considers it a personal mission to pair each woman with as beautiful a gown as he can find. Having worked with legends like Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin and Patti Labelle, it's a guarantee that he'll give that haute-couture experience to all the shopping brides-to-be. Just don't expect him to keep his emotions in check.

I'm really bad with the tears, he said. When that bride comes up and she's got the perfect thing on, and everyone's crying, you have to cry! It's feelings, and I'm really bad with that, especially if there's sickness or something in the family. The consultant and I, we can be crying as much as the family.

This Isn't The Same As The U.S. SYTTD

While the Canadian version of the show follows the same general format as the U.S. iteration, there are two major differences: one, Canadian weddings tend to branch out more in terms of venues and themes. Joseph claims that there are a lot of barn weddings in this country (not a surprise considering our rural citizenship), and some out-there things go on, like getting married on a Sea-Doo, or going up on a parasail wearing your bridal gown. These are all considerations Joseph has to make when tailoring a gown for a picky bride.

The biggest disparity, says Joseph, is budget. Americans' budget is usually between $3,000 and $15,000. Some are unlimited -- if they've had the boobs done, and the lips done, and everything done, it doesn't matter. They want the best of the best. Yes, the biggest difference is the dollar. Canadians underestimate what they're going to spend on a gown. They should be aiming for anywhere between $1,500 and $2,400. It's not going to be what you want if you're thinking below $1000.

By the sounds of things, we can expect some penny-pinching Canadians to make an appearance.

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